"It's special," the brand new husband offered as I joined his family's celebration with a brand new toboggan for the kids on the car's roof. We came back, year after year, with babies, toddlers, and college kids, for that special experience.
"You're finally here," Vince would tease as we arrived 5 minutes after the designated time. We put offerings under the tree and listened to who was still on their way as we placed our shrimp platter on the table. "One down, six to go," he laughed as that shrimp disappeared and he poured his brother a glass of wine in the same breath.
Garlic infused mussles filled the air as predictably as children grew from toddlers to teens and then parents, while their Grandparents became memories. There were years when we all had packages to wrap, toys to assemble and over-stimulated children; but, we never thought about it until after the dishes were washed and the 12 Days sung. Trays of cookies would emerge from under beds and disappear as if sugar and garlic were partners.
I am not sure I ever thanked Vince and Barbara adequately for hosting this event; yet, I am grateful we came through snow, sleet and sometimes freezing rain to join. their feast. I am pretty sure they knew it was special not just because of the magical food and memorable singing, but because the holiday was infused with love and a promise that family-love, fish and sweets can offer.
We could not have imagined it would come to an end; yet, like every single wonderful, stressful and challenging chapter of life, it ended leaving a puddle of memories and a reminder to make new ones.
Memories
We gathered like lemmings,
In the snow, realizing, without
Saying, the real gift was love, time,
Learning to seize the moment.
9 comments:
I like the structure of your piece to say- you explain what you are doing, then a quote, then you paint the scene with lots of sensory details. What a lovely photo memory to put down in h words as well. Your words add so much. This is my favorite sequence:
‘ "One down, six to go," he laughed as that shrimp disappeared and he poured his brother a glass of wine in the same breath.
Garlic infused mussles filled the air as predictably as children grew from toddlers to teens and then parents, while their Grandparents became memories. There were years when we all had packages to wrap, toys to assemble and over-stimulated children; but, we never thought about it until after the dishes were washed and the 12 Days sung. Trays of cookies would emerge from under beds and disappear as if sugar and garlic were partners.’
“While their grandparents became memories” is a beautiful and heart-breaking way to mark the passage of tie over the many years of this tradition!
And “trays of cookies would emerge from under beds” takes me right into my husband’s grandparents tiny house where multitudes would gather. There, the cookie trays emerged from the back porch!
This is wonderful, Fran! I loved this especially: Trays of cookies would emerge from under beds and disappear as if sugar and garlic were partners.
This slice is rich in detail and stirred so much nostalgia. I love the pictures you included, and the dialogue made me feel as if I were right there, celebrating with food, friends, and family.
I feel like I'm there with you, and I'm chuckling at ....finally here....after only five minutes late. Your photo reminds me so much of the pastorium we lived in when my father was a pastor of a church in Port Royal, Kentucky. The snow was that high in the wintertime. And the icicles taller than a human adult. Your last paragraph really hits the message home that memories are to be made and life is to be lived, and some of those memories will be bittersweet. I have some photos like that that bring more tears than I can handle, but I wouldn't trade the living in them. Things don't always turn out like we hope, but they do turn out in their own ways. I'm so glad you are sharing these family stories. They make me smile every time and I find myself loving the common things I share with you.
The montage and sped up time along with the specifics of seafood as holiday tradition were the play button on these vintage photos. Thank you for the invitation! What a gift.
The comment about nostalgia from Lori is perfect. Maybe it's the idea of puddles of memories. Maybe it's the idea of sugar and garlic partners... Have you ever read Arthur for the Very First Time? There's something Patricia MacLachlan-esque about your post. (That's a very big compliment.)
only 5 minutes late e r. . .
So much fun to mention time within memories and you share so many in words and images. BRAVO!
Anita, I love how your photos and prose bring us right into the celebrations. I can smell the garlic, taste the seafood and cookies, and feel the teasing. Then I love how your poem distills the meaning of family celebrations and perhaps makes us reflect on the significance of our own. Beautiful! Thanks for inviting us in!
Your poem had me walking side by side with you down my own Memory Lane of Christmases past. A great journey!
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